Chicago – On Friday, February 29, students that earned a straight “A” average in the second trimester at Mount Carmel had the opportunity to meet and listen to 1994 graduate Sergio Sanchez.

Mr. Sanchez is a Bond Trader and owner of Transmarket Group, located in Chicago.

Vice President of Student Services, Mr. John Haggerty, began the reception and breakfast by complimenting the 34 students on their hard work and discipline.  “As the year goes on it gets harder to maintain discipline and effort.  You have shown that you have great ability, but also a great work ethic.  It is the little things that separate you from other students.”

Mr.  Sanchez reminded the students that hard work and discipline are “building blocks toward future success.”

He expressed to the students that he may have been a little different from them in high school and that he was not the “A” student, but he quickly learned to regret not taking full advantage of his opportunities at Mount Carmel.  As a result, he reinforced the theme of hard work and discipline telling the students that because of his ignorance in high school he had to work three times as hard as other people his age with college degrees. 

“I have always regretted not using the tools and skills that I had in high school to do better.”

Now a business owner, Sanchez shared some experiences with the students to help them stay focused and continue to achieve great grades and grow as well-rounded people.  “When I look to hire new people I do not look for the people who are number one in their class.  I look for people who separate themselves from other people.  I am interested in people who are involved in different activities such as student government or other clubs.  The people I hire have great GPA’s and are involved in many activities.”

Sharing personal experiences of entering the work force at the board of trade, he expressed to the young men that he “was always the low man on the totem poll.  I did not have the credentials that other people had.  I was working 14 to 16 hours a day just to keep up and I learned that the way to compete is to prepare to go against the very best.  If you want to be the best, you have to work the hardest.”

In closing he shared lessons that he learned at Mount Carmel stating, “the thing that I am most grateful for from Mount Carmel is the opportunity to build character and grow into a good person.”  

He left the students with one final piece of advice stating, “The better you prepare now, the more prepared you will be in the future.  The people who are putting in the work, who are doing the best they can, those are the people who will be successful.”

Contact:

Mike Daigler

Director of Communications

Mount Carmel High School

6410 S. Dante Ave.

Chicago, IL 60637

73-324-1020, ext. 226